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Atosuo J, Karhuvaara O, Suominen E, Virtanen J, Vilén L, Nuutila J. The role of gamma globulin, complement component 1q, factor B, properdin, body temperature, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid alpha to the activity and the function of the human complement system and its pathways. J Immunol Methods 2024; 531:113709. [PMID: 38862098 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2024.113709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The complement system plays a crucial role in orchestrating the activation and regulation of inflammation within the human immune system. Three distinct activation pathways-classical, lectin, and alternative-converge to form the common lytic pathway, culminating in the formation of the membrane-attacking complex that disrupts the structure of pathogens. Dysregulated complement system activity can lead to tissue damage, autoimmune diseases, or immune deficiencies. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of human serum was investigated by using a bioluminescent microbe probe, Escherichia coli (pEGFPluxABCDEamp). This probe has previously been used to determine the antimicrobial activity of complement system and the polymorphonuclear neutrophils. In this study, blocking antibodies against key serum activators and components, including IgG, complement component 1q, factor B, and properdin, were utilized. The influence of body temperature and acute phase proteins, such as C reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid alpha (SAA), on the complement system was also examined. The study reveals the critical factors influencing complement system activity and pathway function. Alongside crucial factors like C1q and IgG, alternative pathway components factor B and properdin played pivotal roles. Results indicated that the alternative pathway accounted for approximately one third of the overall serum antimicrobial activity, and blocking this pathway disrupted the entire complement system. Contrary to expectations, elevated body temperature during inflammation did not enhance the antimicrobial activity of human serum. CRP demonstrated complement activation properties, but at higher physiological concentrations, it exhibited antagonistic tendencies, dampening the response. On the other hand, SAA enhanced the serum's activity. Overall, this study sheds a light on the critical factors affecting both complement system activity and pathway functionality, emphasizing the importance of a balanced immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne Atosuo
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Department of Life Technologies, Faculty of Technology, University of Turku, 20140, Finland.
| | - Outi Karhuvaara
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Department of Life Technologies, Faculty of Technology, University of Turku, 20140, Finland.
| | - Eetu Suominen
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Department of Life Technologies, Faculty of Technology, University of Turku, 20140, Finland.
| | - Julia Virtanen
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Department of Life Technologies, Faculty of Technology, University of Turku, 20140, Finland
| | - Liisa Vilén
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Clinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, 20140, University of Turku, Finland.
| | - Jari Nuutila
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Department of Life Technologies, Faculty of Technology, University of Turku, 20140, Finland.
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Hui CY, Ma BC, Hu SY, Wu C. Tailored bacteria tackling with environmental mercury: Inspired by natural mercuric detoxification operons. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 341:123016. [PMID: 38008253 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and its inorganic and organic compounds significantly threaten the ecosystem and human health. However, the natural and anthropogenic Hg environmental inputs exceed 5000 metric tons annually. Hg is usually discharged in elemental or ionic forms, accumulating in surface water and sediments where Hg-methylating microbes-mediated biotransformation occurs. Microbial genetic factors such as the mer operon play a significant role in the complex Hg biogeochemical cycle. Previous reviews summarize the fate of environmental Hg, its biogeochemistry, and the mechanism of bacterial Hg resistance. This review mainly focuses on the mer operon and its components in detecting, absorbing, bioaccumulating, and detoxifying environmental Hg. Four components of the mer operon, including the MerR regulator, divergent mer promoter, and detoxification factors MerA and MerB, are rare bio-parts for assembling synthetic bacteria, which tackle pollutant Hg. Bacteria are designed to integrate synthetic biology, protein engineering, and metabolic engineering. In summary, this review highlights that designed bacteria based on the mer operon can potentially sense and bioremediate pollutant Hg in a green and low-cost manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Ye Hui
- Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, 2019 Buxin Road, Shenzhen, 518020, China.
| | - Bing-Chan Ma
- Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, 2019 Buxin Road, Shenzhen, 518020, China; School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shun-Yu Hu
- Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, 2019 Buxin Road, Shenzhen, 518020, China; Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Can Wu
- Shenzhen Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, 2019 Buxin Road, Shenzhen, 518020, China; Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
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Herath HMLPB, de Silva WRM, Dassanayake RS, Gunawardene YINS, Jayasingha JRP, Gayashan MK, Afonso LOB, de Silva KMN. Validation and calibration of a novel GEM biosensor for specific detection of Cd 2+, Zn 2+, and Pb 2. BMC Biotechnol 2023; 23:52. [PMID: 38066557 PMCID: PMC10709830 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-023-00820-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study, we designed a novel genetic circuit sensitive to Cd2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ by mimicking the CadA/CadR operon system mediated heavy metal homeostasis mechanism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The regular DNA motifs on natural operon were reconfigured and coupled with the enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP) reporter to develop a novel basic NOT type logic gate CadA/CadR-eGFP to respond metal ions mentioned above. A Genetically Engineered Microbial (GEM)-based biosensor (E.coli-BL21:pJET1.2-CadA/CadR-eGFP) was developed by cloning the chemically synthesised CadA/CadR-eGFP gene circuit into pJET1.2-plasmid and transforming into Escherichia coli (E. coli)-BL21 bacterial cells. RESULTS The GEM-based biosensor cells indicated the reporter gene expression in the presence of Cd2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ either singly or in combination. Further, the same biosensor cells calibrated for fluorescent intensity against heavy metal concentration generated linear graphs for Cd2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ with the R2 values of 0.9809, 0.9761 and 0.9758, respectively as compared to non-specific metals, Fe3+ (0.0373), AsO43- (0.3825) and Ni2+ (0.8498) making our biosensor suitable for the detection of low concentration of the former metal ions in the range of 1-6 ppb. Furthermore, the GEM based biosensor cells were growing naturally within the concentration range of heavy metals, at 37 °C and optimum pH = 7.0 in the medium, resembling the characteristics of wildtype E.coli. CONCLUSION Finally, the novel GEM based biosensor cells developed in this study can be applied for detection of targeted heavy metals in low concentration ranges (1-6 ppb) at normal bacterial physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M L P B Herath
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Devices (CAMD), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo, 00300, Sri Lanka
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - W R M de Silva
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Devices (CAMD), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo, 00300, Sri Lanka
| | - R S Dassanayake
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Devices (CAMD), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo, 00300, Sri Lanka
| | - Y I N S Gunawardene
- Molecular Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka
| | - J R P Jayasingha
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Devices (CAMD), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo, 00300, Sri Lanka
| | - M K Gayashan
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Devices (CAMD), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo, 00300, Sri Lanka
| | - L O B Afonso
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| | - K M N de Silva
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Devices (CAMD), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo, 00300, Sri Lanka.
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Teng T, Huang WE, Li G, Wang X, Song Y, Tang X, Dawa D, Jiang B, Zhang D. Application of magnetic-nanoparticle functionalized whole-cell biosensor array for bioavailability and ecotoxicity estimation at urban contaminated sites. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165292. [PMID: 37414179 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The bioavailability and ecotoxicity of pollutants are important for urban ecological systems and human health, particularly at contaminated urban sites. Therefore, whole-cell bioreporters are used in many studies to assess the risks of priority chemicals; however, their application is restricted by low throughput for specific compounds and complicated operations for field tests. In this study, an assembly technology for manufacturing Acinetobacter-based biosensor arrays using magnetic nanoparticle functionalization was developed to solve this problem. The bioreporter cells maintained high viability, sensitivity, and specificity in sensing 28 priority chemicals, seven heavy metals, and seven inorganic compounds in a high-throughput manner, and their performance remained acceptable for at least 20 d. We also tested the performance by assessing 22 real environmental soil samples from urban areas in China, and our results showed positive correlations between the biosensor estimation and chemical analysis. Our findings prove the feasibility of the magnetic nanoparticle-functionalized biosensor array to recognize the types and toxicities of multiple contaminants for online environmental monitoring at contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Teng
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, PR China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China
| | - Wei E Huang
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
| | - Guanghe Li
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Xinzi Wang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China; Suzhou Yiqing Environmental Technology Co. Ltd., Suzhou 215163, PR China
| | - Yizhi Song
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, PR China
| | - Xiaoyi Tang
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 2YQ, UK
| | - Dunzhu Dawa
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, PR China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China
| | - Bo Jiang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Dayi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130021, PR China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
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Tang Y, Hardy TJ, Yoon JY. Receptor-based detection of microplastics and nanoplastics: Current and future. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 234:115361. [PMID: 37148803 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is an emerging environmental concern, gaining significant attention worldwide. They are classified into microplastics (MP; defined from 1 μm to 5 mm) and smaller nanoplastics (NP; <1 μm). NPs may pose higher ecological risks than MPs. Various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques have been used to detect MPs, and the same methods have occasionally been used for NPs. However, they are not based on receptors, which provide high specificity in most biosensing applications. Receptor-based micro/nanoplastics (MNP) detection can provide high specificity, distinguishing MNPs from the environmental samples and, more importantly, identifying the plastic types. It can also offer a low limit of detection (LOD) required for environmental screening. Such receptors are expected to detect NPs specifically at the molecular level. This review categorizes the receptors into cells, proteins, peptides, fluorescent dyes, polymers, and micro/nanostructures. Detection techniques used with these receptors are also summarized and categorized. There is plenty of room for future research to test for broader classes of environmental samples and many plastic types, to lower the LOD, and to apply the current techniques for NPs. Portable and handheld MNP detection should also be demonstrated for field use since the current demonstrations primarily utilized laboratory instruments. Detection on microfluidic platforms will also be crucial in miniaturizing and automating the assay and, eventually, collecting an extensive database to support machine learning-based classification of MNP types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisha Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Trinity J Hardy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States
| | - Jeong-Yeol Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States.
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Chen Y, Guo Y, Liu Y, Xiang Y, Liu G, Zhang Q, Yin Y, Cai Y, Jiang G. Advances in bacterial whole-cell biosensors for the detection of bioavailable mercury: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161709. [PMID: 36682565 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and its organic compounds, especially monomethylmercury (MeHg), cause major damage to the ecosystem and human health. In surface water or sediments, microorganisms play a crucial role in the methylation and demethylation of Hg. Given that Hg transformation processes are intracellular reactions, accurate assessment of the bioavailability of Hg(II)/MeHg in the environment, particularly for microorganisms, is of major importance. Compared with traditional analytical methods, bacterial whole-cell biosensors (BWCBs) provide a more accurate, convenient, and cost-effective strategy to assess the environmental risks of Hg(II)/MeHg. This Review summarizes recent progress in the application of BWCBs in the detection of bioavailable Hg(II)/MeHg, providing insight on current challenges and strategies. The principle and components of BWCBs for Hg(II)/MeHg bioavailability analysis are introduced. Furthermore, the impact of water chemical factors on the bioavailability of Hg is discussed as are future perspectives of BWCBs in bioavailable Hg analysis and optimization of BWCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueqian Chen
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Yingying Guo
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yanwei Liu
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yuping Xiang
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Guangliang Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States of America
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yongguang Yin
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China; Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Yong Cai
- Laboratory of Environmental Nanotechnology and Health, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States of America
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Ma Z, Meliana C, Munawaroh HSH, Karaman C, Karimi-Maleh H, Low SS, Show PL. Recent advances in the analytical strategies of microbial biosensor for detection of pollutants. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 306:135515. [PMID: 35772520 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microbial biosensor which integrates different types of microorganisms, such as bacteria, microalgae, fungi, and virus have become suitable technologies to address limitations of conventional analytical methods. The main applications of biosensors include the detection of environmental pollutants, pathogenic bacteria and compounds related to illness, and food quality. Each type of microorganisms possesses advantages and disadvantages with different mechanisms to detect the analytes of interest. Furthermore, there is an increasing trend in genetic modifications for the development of microbial biosensors due to potential for high-throughput analysis and portability. Many review articles have discussed the applications of microbial biosensor, but many of them focusing only about bacterial-based biosensor although other microbes also possess many advantages. Additionally, reviews on the applications of all microbes as biosensor especially viral and microbial fuel cell biosensors are also still limited. Therefore, this review summarizes all the current applications of bacterial-, microalgal-, fungal-, viral-based biosensor in regard to environmental, food, and medical-related applications. The underlying mechanism of each microbes to detect the analytes are also discussed. Additionally, microbial fuel cell biosensors which have great potential in the future are also discussed. Although many advantageous microbial-based biosensors have been discovered, other areas such as forensic detection, early detection of bacteria or virus species that can lead to pandemics, and others still need further investigation. With that said, microbial-based biosensors have promising potential for vast applications where the biosensing performance of various microorganisms are presented in this review along with future perspectives to resolve problems related on microbial biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengling Ma
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
| | - Catarina Meliana
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Life Science, Indonesia International Institute of Life Sciences, Jakarta, 13210, Indonesia
| | - Heli Siti Halimatul Munawaroh
- Study Program of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jalan Dr. Setiabudhi 229, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia
| | - Ceren Karaman
- Akdeniz University, Department of Electricity and Energy, Antalya, 07070, Turkey
| | - Hassan Karimi-Maleh
- School of Resources and Environment, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, P.O. Box 611731, Xiyuan Ave, Chengdu, PR China; Department of Chemical Engineering and Energy, Quchan University of Technology, Quchan, 9477177870, Iran
| | - Sze Shin Low
- Research Centre of Life Science and Healthcare, China Beacons Institute, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo, 315100, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
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Exploiting Catabolite Repression and Stringent Response to Control Delay and Multimodality of Bioluminescence Signal by Metal Whole-Cell Biosensors: Interplay between Metal Bioavailability and Nutritional Medium Conditions. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12050327. [PMID: 35624628 PMCID: PMC9139025 DOI: 10.3390/bios12050327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The time-dependent response of metal-detecting whole-cell luminescent bacterial sensors is impacted by metal speciation/bioavailability in solution. The comprehensive understanding of such connections requires the consideration of the bacterial energy metabolism at stake and the effects of supplied food on cells’ capability to convert bioaccumulated metals into light. Accordingly, we investigated the time response (48 h assay) of PzntA-luxCDABE Escherichia coli Cd biosensors in media differing with respect to sources of amino acids (tryptone or Lysogeny Broth) and carbon (glucose, xylose and mixtures thereof). We show that the resulting coupling between the stringent cell response and glucose/xylose-mediated catabolite repressions lead to well-defined multimodalities and shapes of the bioluminescence signal over time. Based on a recent theory for the time–response of metal-sensing luminescent bacteria, successful theoretical reconstructions of the bioluminescence signals are reported under all Cd concentrations (0–20 nM) and nutritive conditions examined. This analysis leads to the evaluation of time-dependent cell photoactivity and qualitative information on metal speciation/bioavailability in solution. Biosensor performance and the position, shape, number, and magnitude of detected peaks are discussed in relation to the metabolic pathways operative during the successive light emission modes identified here over time. Altogether, the results clarify the contributions of metal/nutrient bio-availabilities and food quality to cell response typology.
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Puhakka E, Santala V. Method for acrylic acid monomer detection with recombinant biosensor cells for enhanced plastic degradation monitoring from water environments. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 178:113568. [PMID: 35339059 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastic debris degrades in the water environments due to various factors such as mechanical stress. Small-sized degradation products, including plastic monomers, are currently monitored using equipment which might be unsuitable for screening. Here, we developed a recombinant whole-cell bacterial biosensor, which could be used for this type of monitoring. The Escherichia coli pBAV1K-ACU-lucFF cells contain a luciferase-based reporter system under the control of acrylic acid specific promoter. The biosensor cells were used to detect acrylic acid monomers from both sterile water and spiked lake water samples, indicating usability with environmental samples. Furthermore, poly(acrylic acid) was incubated in salt water, and the biosensor cells could identify acrylic acid monomers originating from it. Thus, the cells could be used to observe similar processes in the environment. The results show that the bacterial biosensors could complement the current research methods of plastic monomer monitoring in water environments with a potential for higher throughputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmi Puhakka
- Tampere University, Korkeakoulunkatu 7, 33720 Tampere, Finland.
| | - Ville Santala
- Tampere University, Korkeakoulunkatu 7, 33720 Tampere, Finland
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Dhakal J, Aldrich CG. A Comparison of Salmonella Survival and Detection Using an Enrichment Technique in Dry- and Wet-Inoculated Rendered Chicken Fat Treated with Sodium Bisulfate. J Food Prot 2021; 84:249-254. [PMID: 32916702 DOI: 10.4315/jfp-20-183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The differences in the recovery of Salmonella from rendered chicken fat treated with sodium bisulfate (SBS) when inoculated with a dry versus wet inoculum were evaluated. Food-grade rendered chicken fat was inoculated with a dry inoculum and a wet inoculum containing a cocktail of Salmonella serovars (Enteritidis, Heidelberg, and Typhimurium). In addition, the effect of an antimicrobial treatment (SBS) against Salmonella in both the aqueous phase and fat phase of the chicken fat was evaluated. The untreated control samples in the aqueous phase had a consistent level of Salmonella (∼7 log) when both the dry and wet inocula were used. In the SBS-treated aqueous phase, Salmonella pathogens were not detectable after 6 h when the wet inoculum was used; when the dry inoculum was used, Salmonella pathogens were not detectable at 24 h. Salmonella pathogens were detected for up to 6 h in the SBS-treated fat phase when the dry inoculum was used compared with 2 h with the wet inoculum. The 24-h fat samples that failed to show growth on Trypticase soy agar were enriched for Salmonella isolation, followed by confirmation by PCR using primers for the invA gene. SBS-treated and control samples from the dry-inoculated rendered chicken fat and the inoculated control from the wet-inoculated rendered chicken fat tested positive for Salmonella. However, the SBS-treated sample from the wet-inoculated fat was negative for Salmonella. The use of dry SBS powder against dry Salmonella inoculum in the fat matrix caused only ∼2.8-log reduction after 24 h compared with ∼2.2-log reduction in the positive control. However, the recovery of Salmonella from untreated control fat was lower and was not different (P > 0.05) from that recovered from the SBS-treated fat. The results suggest that viable but nonculturable states of Salmonella may develop in rendered chicken fat or that injured cells may be present, which indicates that testing should include an enrichment and appropriate molecular confirmation instead of agar plating alone. HIGHLIGHTS
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Affiliation(s)
- Janak Dhakal
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
| | - Charles G Aldrich
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA
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Baya G, Muhindi S, Ngendahimana V, Caguiat J. Potential Whole-Cell Biosensors for Detection of Metal Using MerR Family Proteins from Enterobacter sp. YSU and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia OR02. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12020142. [PMID: 33572806 PMCID: PMC7911910 DOI: 10.3390/mi12020142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based biosensors harness a cell's ability to respond to the environment by repurposing its sensing mechanisms. MerR family proteins are activator/repressor switches that regulate the expression of bacterial metal resistance genes and have been used in metal biosensors. Upon metal binding, a conformational change switches gene expression from off to on. The genomes of the multimetal resistant bacterial strains, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Oak Ridge strain 02 (S. maltophilia 02) and Enterobacter sp. YSU, were recently sequenced. Sequence analysis and gene cloning identified three mercury resistance operons and three MerR switches in these strains. Transposon mutagenesis and sequence analysis identified Enterobacter sp. YSU zinc and copper resistance operons, which appear to be regulated by the protein switches, ZntR and CueR, respectively. Sequence analysis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that a CueR switch appears to activate a S. maltophilia 02 copper transport gene in the presence of CuSO4 and HAuCl4·3H2O. In previous studies, genetic engineering replaced metal resistance genes with the reporter genes for β-galactosidase, luciferase or the green fluorescence protein (GFP). These produce a color change of a reagent, produce light, or fluoresce in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light, respectively. Coupling these discovered operons with reporter genes has the potential to create whole-cell biosensors for HgCl2, ZnCl2, CuSO4 and HAuCl4·3H2O.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Baya
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH 44555, USA;
| | - Stephen Muhindi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA;
| | - Valentine Ngendahimana
- Biology Department, Lone Star College-CyFair, 9191 Barker Cypress Rd, Cypress, TX 77433, USA;
| | - Jonathan Caguiat
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH 44555, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-330-941-2063
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12
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Neefjes M, Housmans BAC, van den Akker GGH, van Rhijn LW, Welting TJM, van der Kraan PM. Reporter gene comparison demonstrates interference of complex body fluids with secreted luciferase activity. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1359. [PMID: 33446782 PMCID: PMC7809208 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80451-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Reporter gene assays are widely used to study cellular signaling and transcriptional activity. Few studies describe the use of reporter genes for studying cellular responses on complex body fluids, such as urine and blood. Selection of the optimal reporter gene is crucial for study outcome. Here, we compared the characteristics of five reporter genes (Firefly luciferase, stable- and unstable Nano luciferase, secretable Gaussia luciferase and Red Fluorescent Protein) to study complex body fluids. For this comparison, the NFκB Response Element (NFκB-RE) and Smad Binding Element (SBE) were identically cloned into the five different reporter vectors. Reporter characteristics were evaluated by kinetic and concentration–response measurements in SW1353 and HeLa cell lines. Finally, reporter compatibility with complex body fluids (fetal calf serum, knee joint synovial fluid and human serum) and inter-donor variation were evaluated. Red Fluorescent Protein demonstrated poor inducibility as a reporter gene and slow kinetics compared to luciferases. Intracellularly measured luciferases, such as Firefly luciferase and Nano luciferase, revealed good compatibility with complex body fluids. Secreted Gaussia luciferase appeared to be incompatible with complex body fluids, due to variability in inter-donor signal interference. Unstable Nano luciferase demonstrated clear inducibility, high sensitivity and compatibility with complex body fluids and therefore can be recommended for cellular signaling studies using complex body fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Neefjes
- Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - B A C Housmans
- Laboratory for Experimental Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - G G H van den Akker
- Laboratory for Experimental Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - L W van Rhijn
- Laboratory for Experimental Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - T J M Welting
- Laboratory for Experimental Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. .,Laboratory for Experimental Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - P M van der Kraan
- Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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13
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Tian X, Gao Y, Wang S, Adnan Hameed HM, Yu W, Fang C, Zhang J, Tan Y, Cao Z, Guan P, Hu J, Liu J, Zhong N, Zhang T. Rapid visualized assessment of drug efficacy in live mice with a selectable marker-free autoluminescent Klebsiella pneumoniae. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 177:112919. [PMID: 33515974 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that is responsible for community acquired infections and nosocomial infections. Antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae and/or hypervirulent K. pneumoniae are emerging as a serious threat to public health. For the sake of alleviating and conquering current dilemma, discovery of effective new drugs against K. pneumoniae is a tough challenge. However, traditional anti-K. pneumoniae drug discovery methods cost considerable amount of time, animals, labor and so on. So an efficient technique for in vitro and in vivo drug screening with the least time duration, animals and labor cost is highly needed for the discovery of new effective compounds. Hence, in this study we constructed a selectable marker-free autoluminescent K. pneumoniae (SfAlKp) harboring luxCDABE by combining Tn7 transposon and Xer-dif system. SfAlKp can be used for discovery of new drugs via detecting luminescence intensity as a surrogate marker. The energy-consuming autoluminescent reaction catalyzed by the LuxAB enzymes which use the substrates produced by LuxCDE using the metabolites of the bacteria. Tn7 can insert exogenous genes into the bacterial genome and the DNA fragment in between dif sequences can be recognized and removed by endogenous XerCD recombinases of K. pneumoniae. The drug susceptibility and growth rate of SfAlKp are identical to its parent strain, meanwhile the luminescence intensity and stability are also significant characteristics of SfAlKp. Compared to conventional techniques, the autoluminescence-based measurement is more applicable to high throughput screening for compounds both in vitro as well as in vivo in animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xirong Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Yamin Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - H M Adnan Hameed
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Cuiting Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jingran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Yaoju Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, 510095, China
| | - Zhizhong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, 510095, China
| | - Ping Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, 510095, China
| | - Jinxing Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, 510095, China
| | - Jianxiong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, 510095, China
| | - Nanshan Zhong
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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14
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Pang Y, Ren X, Li J, Liang F, Rao X, Gao Y, Wu W, Li D, Wang J, Zhao J, Hong X, Jiang F, Wang W, Zhou H, Lyu J, Tan G. Development of a Sensitive Escherichia coli Bioreporter Without Antibiotic Markers for Detecting Bioavailable Copper in Water Environments. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:3031. [PMID: 32038525 PMCID: PMC6993034 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The whole-cell bioreporters based on the cop-operon sensing elements have been proven specifically useful in the assessment of bioavailable copper ions in water environments. In this study, a series of experiments was conducted to further improve the sensitivity and robustness of bioreporters. First, an Escherichia coli △copA△cueO△cusA mutant with three copper transport genes knocked out was constructed. Then, the copAp::gfpmut2 sensing element was inserted into the chromosome of E. coli △copA△cueO△cusA by gene knock-in method to obtain the bioreporter strain E. coli WMC-007. In optimized assay conditions, the linear detection range of Cu2+ was 0.025–5 mg/L (0.39–78.68 μM) after incubating E. coli WMC-007 in Luria–Bertani medium for 5 h. The limit of detection of Cu2+ was 0.0157 mg/L (0.25 μM). Moreover, fluorescence spectrometry and flow cytometry experiments showed more environmental robustness and lower background fluorescence signal than those of the sensor element based on plasmids. In addition, we found that the expression of GFPmut2 in E. coli WMC-007 was induced by free copper ions, rather than complex-bound copper, in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, the addition of 40 mM 3-(N-Morpholino)propanesulfonic acid buffer to E. coli WMC-007 culture enabled accurate quantification of bioavailable copper content in aqueous solution samples within a pH range from 0.87 to 12.84. The copper recovery rate was about 95.88–113.40%. These results demonstrate potential applications of E. coli WMC-007 as a bioreporter to monitor copper contamination in acidic mine drainage, industrial wastewater, and drinking water. Since whole-cell bioreporters are relatively inexpensive and easy to operate, the combination of this method with other physicochemical techniques will in turn provide more specific information on the degree of toxicity in water environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Pang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaojun Ren
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jianghui Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Feng Liang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Rao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wenhe Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Dong Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Juanjuan Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Zhao
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xufen Hong
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Fengying Jiang
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wu Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Huaibin Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jianxin Lyu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guoqiang Tan
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology and Application of Model Organisms, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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15
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Vecchione S, Fritz G. CRIMoClo plasmids for modular assembly and orthogonal chromosomal integration of synthetic circuits in Escherichia coli. J Biol Eng 2019; 13:92. [PMID: 31798686 PMCID: PMC6883643 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-019-0218-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Synthetic biology heavily depends on rapid and simple techniques for DNA engineering, such as Ligase Cycling Reaction (LCR), Gibson assembly and Golden Gate assembly, all of which allow for fast, multi-fragment DNA assembly. A major enhancement of Golden Gate assembly is represented by the Modular Cloning (MoClo) system that allows for simple library propagation and combinatorial construction of genetic circuits from reusable parts. Yet, one limitation of the MoClo system is that all circuits are assembled in low- and medium copy plasmids, while a rapid route to chromosomal integration is lacking. To overcome this bottleneck, here we took advantage of the conditional-replication, integration, and modular (CRIM) plasmids, which can be integrated in single copies into the chromosome of Escherichia coli and related bacteria by site-specific recombination at different phage attachment (att) sites. Results By combining the modularity of the MoClo system with the CRIM plasmids features we created a set of 32 novel CRIMoClo plasmids and benchmarked their suitability for synthetic biology applications. Using CRIMoClo plasmids we assembled and integrated a given genetic circuit into four selected phage attachment sites. Analyzing the behavior of these circuits we found essentially identical expression levels, indicating orthogonality of the loci. Using CRIMoClo plasmids and four different reporter systems, we illustrated a framework that allows for a fast and reliable sequential integration at the four selected att sites. Taking advantage of four resistance cassettes the procedure did not require recombination events between each round of integration. Finally, we assembled and genomically integrated synthetic ECF σ factor/anti-σ switches with high efficiency, showing that the growth defects observed for circuits encoded on medium-copy plasmids were alleviated. Conclusions The CRIMoClo system enables the generation of genetic circuits from reusable, MoClo-compatible parts and their integration into 4 orthogonal att sites into the genome of E. coli. Utilizing four different resistance modules the CRIMoClo system allows for easy, fast, and reliable multiple integrations. Moreover, utilizing CRIMoClo plasmids and MoClo reusable parts, we efficiently integrated and alleviated the toxicity of plasmid-borne circuits. Finally, since CRIMoClo framework allows for high flexibility, it is possible to utilize plasmid-borne and chromosomally integrated circuits simultaneously. This increases our ability to permute multiple genetic modules and allows for an easier design of complex synthetic metabolic pathways in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Vecchione
- LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein Str. 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Georg Fritz
- LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein Str. 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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16
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Lopreside A, Wan X, Michelini E, Roda A, Wang B. Comprehensive Profiling of Diverse Genetic Reporters with Application to Whole-Cell and Cell-Free Biosensors. Anal Chem 2019; 91:15284-15292. [PMID: 31690077 PMCID: PMC6899433 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Whole-cell
and cell-free transcription-translation biosensors have
recently become favorable alternatives to conventional detection methods,
as they are cost-effective, environmental friendly, and easy to use.
Importantly, the biological responses from the biosensors need to
be converted into a physicochemical signal for easy detection, and
a variety of genetic reporters have been employed for this purpose.
Reporter gene selection is vital to a sensor performance and application
success. However, it was largely based on trial and error with very
few systematic side-by-side investigations reported. To address this
bottleneck, here we compared eight reporters from three reporter categories,
i.e., fluorescent (gfpmut3, deGFP, mCherry, mScarlet-I), colorimetric
(lacZ), and bioluminescent (luxCDABE from Aliivibrio fischeri and Photorhabdus
luminescens, NanoLuc) reporters, under the
control of two representative biosensors for mercury- and quorum-sensing
molecules. Both whole-cell and cell-free formats were investigated
to assess key sensing features including limit of detection (LOD),
input and output dynamic ranges, response time, and output visibility.
For both whole-cell biosensors, the lowest detectable concentration
of analytes and the fastest responses were achieved with NanoLuc.
Notably, we developed, to date, the most sensitive whole-cell mercury
biosensor using NanoLuc as reporter, with an LOD ≤ 50.0 fM
HgCl2 30 min postinduction. For cell-free biosensors, overall, NanoLuc and deGFP led to shorter response
time and lower LOD than the others. This comprehensive profile of
diverse reporters in a single setting provides a new important benchmark
for reporter selection, aiding the rapid development of whole-cell
and cell-free biosensors for various applications in the environment
and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Lopreside
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum , University of Bologna , 40126 Bologna , Italy
| | | | - Elisa Michelini
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum , University of Bologna , 40126 Bologna , Italy
| | - Aldo Roda
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum , University of Bologna , 40126 Bologna , Italy
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17
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Belova AM, Basmanov DV, Babenko VV, Podgorny OV, Mitko TV, Prusakov KA, Klinov DV, Lazarev VN. Two novel transcriptional reporter systems for monitoring Helicobacter pylori stress responses. Plasmid 2019; 106:102442. [PMID: 31669286 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2019.102442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori, a human pathogen linked to many stomach diseases, is well adapted to colonize aggressive gastric environments, and its virulence factors contribute this adaptation. Here, we report the construction of two novel H. pylori vectors, pSv2 and pSv4, carrying a reporter gene fused to the promoters of virulence factor genes for monitoring the response of single H. pylori cells to various stresses. H. pylori cryptic plasmids were modified by the introduction of the Escherichia coli origin of replication, chloramphenicol resistance cassette, and promoterless gfp gene to produce E. coli/H. pylori shuttle vectors. The promoter regions of vacA and ureA genes encoding well-characterized H. pylori virulence factors were fused to the promoterless gfp gene. Recording the GFP fluorescence signal from the genetically modified H. pylori cells immobilized in specifically designed microfluidic devices revealed the response of transcriptional reporter systems to osmotic stress, acidic stress, elevated Ni2+ concentration or iron chelation. Our observations validate the utility of the pSv2 and pSv4 vectors to monitor the regulation of virulence factor genes in diverse strains and clinical isolates of H. pylori.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Belova
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow 119435, Russia.
| | - D V Basmanov
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow 119435, Russia
| | - V V Babenko
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow 119435, Russia
| | - O V Podgorny
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow 119435, Russia; Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - T V Mitko
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow 119435, Russia
| | - K A Prusakov
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow 119435, Russia
| | - D V Klinov
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow 119435, Russia
| | - V N Lazarev
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow 119435, Russia
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18
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Pinto D, Vecchione S, Wu H, Mauri M, Mascher T, Fritz G. Engineering orthogonal synthetic timer circuits based on extracytoplasmic function σ factors. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:7450-7464. [PMID: 29986061 PMCID: PMC6101570 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The rational design of synthetic regulatory circuits critically hinges on the availability of orthogonal and well-characterized building blocks. Here, we focus on extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors, which are the largest group of alternative σ factors and hold extensive potential as synthetic orthogonal regulators. By assembling multiple ECF σ factors into regulatory cascades of varying length, we benchmark the scalability of the approach, showing that these ‘autonomous timer circuits’ feature a tuneable time delay between inducer addition and target gene activation. The implementation of similar timers in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis shows strikingly convergent circuit behavior, which can be rationalized by a computational model. These findings not only reveal ECF σ factors as powerful building blocks for a rational, multi-layered circuit design, but also suggest that ECF σ factors are universally applicable as orthogonal regulators in a variety of bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Pinto
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefano Vecchione
- LOEWE-Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Hao Wu
- LOEWE-Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Marco Mauri
- LOEWE-Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Mascher
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Georg Fritz
- LOEWE-Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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Böhm I, Gehrke S, Kleb B, Hungerbühler M, Müller R, Klose KJ, Alfke H. Monitoring of tumor burden in vivo by optical imaging in a xenograft SCID mouse model: evaluation of two fluorescent proteins of the GFP-superfamily. Acta Radiol 2019; 60:315-326. [PMID: 29890843 DOI: 10.1177/0284185118780896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mouse models of human-malignant-melanoma (MM) are important tools to study tumor dynamics. The enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) is widely used in molecular imaging approaches, together with optical scanners, and fluorescence imaging. PURPOSE Currently, there are no data available as to whether other fluorescent proteins are more suitable. The goal of this preclinical study was to analyze two fluorescent proteins of the GFP superfamily under real-time in vivo conditions using fluorescence reflectance imaging (FRI). MATERIAL AND METHODS The human melanoma cell line MeWo was stable transfected with one plasmid: pEGFP-C1 or pDsRed1-N1. We investigated two severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)-mice groups: A (solid xenografts) and B (xenografts as metastases). After three weeks, the animals were weekly imaged by FRI. Afterwards the mice were euthanized and metastases were imaged in situ: to quantify the cutis-dependent reduction of emitted light, we compared signal intensities obtained by metastases in vivo with signal intensities obtained by in situ liver parenchyma preparations. RESULTS More than 90% of cells were stable transfected. EGFP-/DsRed-xenograft tumors had identical growth kinetics. In vivo the emitted light by DsRed tumors/metastases was much brighter than by EGFP. DsRed metastases were earlier (3 vs. 5 weeks) and much more sensitive detectable than EGFP metastases. Cutis-dependent reduction of emitted light was greater in EGFP than in DsRed mice (tenfold). Autofluorescence of DsRed was lower than of EGFP. CONCLUSION We established an in vivo xenograft mouse model (DsRed-MeWo) that is reliable, reproducible, and superior to the EGFP model as a preclinical tool to study innovative therapies by FRI under real-time in vivo conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Böhm
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional, and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Radiology Laboratory, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Gehrke
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Beate Kleb
- Department of Experimental Ophthalmology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Martin Hungerbühler
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional, and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Radiology Laboratory, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rolf Müller
- Institute of Molecular Tumor Biology and Cancer Gene Therapy (IMT), Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Klaus J Klose
- Deans Office, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Heiko Alfke
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum Lüdenscheid, Lüdenscheid, Germany
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D'Angelo F, Baldelli V, Halliday N, Pantalone P, Polticelli F, Fiscarelli E, Williams P, Visca P, Leoni L, Rampioni G. Identification of FDA-Approved Drugs as Antivirulence Agents Targeting the pqs Quorum-Sensing System of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:e01296-18. [PMID: 30201815 PMCID: PMC6201120 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01296-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The long-term use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. A promising strategy to combat bacterial infections aims at hampering their adaptability to the host environment without affecting growth. In this context, the intercellular communication system quorum sensing (QS), which controls virulence factor production and biofilm formation in diverse human pathogens, is considered an ideal target. Here, we describe the identification of new inhibitors of the pqs QS system of the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa by screening a library of 1,600 U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs. Phenotypic characterization of ad hoc engineered strains and in silico molecular docking demonstrated that the antifungal drugs clotrimazole and miconazole, as well as an antibacterial compound active against Gram-positive pathogens, clofoctol, inhibit the pqs system, probably by targeting the transcriptional regulator PqsR. The most active inhibitor, clofoctol, specifically inhibited the expression of pqs-controlled virulence traits in P. aeruginosa, such as pyocyanin production, swarming motility, biofilm formation, and expression of genes involved in siderophore production. Moreover, clofoctol protected Galleria mellonella larvae from P. aeruginosa infection and inhibited the pqs QS system in P. aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis patients. Notably, clofoctol is already approved for clinical treatment of pulmonary infections caused by Gram-positive bacterial pathogens; hence, this drug has considerable clinical potential as an antivirulence agent for the treatment of P. aeruginosa lung infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nigel Halliday
- Centre for Biomolecular Sciences and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Pantalone
- Centre for Biomolecular Sciences and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Polticelli
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Roma Tre Section, Rome, Italy
| | - Ersilia Fiscarelli
- Laboratory of Cystic Fibrosis Microbiology, Bambino Gesú Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paul Williams
- Centre for Biomolecular Sciences and School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Visca
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Leoni
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
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21
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O 2-requiring molecular reporters of gene expression for anaerobic microorganisms. Biosens Bioelectron 2018; 123:1-6. [PMID: 30269005 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2018.09.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Many genetic reporter systems require molecular oxygen; therefore, the use of reporter genes to study molecular mechanisms in anaerobic microorganisms has been hampered by the lack of convenient reporting systems. We describe reporter gene whole cell-based biosensor systems based on luciferase genes and the associated oxygen-requiring enzymes. By using two different oxygen-dependent reporters, insect and bacterial luciferases, and two bacterial hosts, Gram (+) Bifidobacterium longum and Gram (-) Escherichia coli, we show that the enzymes can be used in gene expression studies of anaerobic bacteria. E. coli, a facultative anaerobe, was grown both in aerobic and anaerobic conditions with an arabinose-inducible expression system. We show that a short treatment time of few minutes in ambient atmosphere is sufficient to detect light emission from living cells that is directly proportional to the number of cells and to the inducer concentration. The induction levels were the same in both the aerobically and anaerobically cultured cells. Similar results were obtained in the case of B. longum cultured in anaerobic conditions.
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22
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Zhang C, Parrello D, Brown PJB, Wall JD, Hu Z. A novel whole-cell biosensor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to monitor the expression of quorum sensing genes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:6023-6038. [PMID: 29730766 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9044-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A novel whole-cell biosensor was developed to noninvasively and simultaneously monitor the in situ genetic activities of the four quorum sensing (QS) networks in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, including the las, rhl, pqs, and iqs systems. P. aeruginosa PAO1 is a model bacterium for studies of biofilm and pathogenesis while both processes are closely controlled by the QS systems. This biosensor worked well by selectively monitoring the expression of one representative gene from each network. In the biosensor, the promoter regions of lasI, rhlI, pqsA, and ambB (QS genes) controlled the fluorescent reporter genes of Turbo YFP, mTag BFP2, mNEON Green, and E2-Orange, respectively. The biosensor was successful in monitoring the impact of an important environmental factor, salt stress, on the genetic regulation of QS networks. High salt concentrations (≥ 20 g·L-1) significantly downregulated rhlI, pqsA, and ambB after the biosensor was incubated for 17 h to 18 h at 37 °C, resulting in slow bacterial growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiqian Zhang
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Damien Parrello
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Pamela J B Brown
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Judy D Wall
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Hu
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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23
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Colin Y, Gury J, Monperrus M, Gentes S, Ayala Borda P, Goni-Urriza M, Guyoneaud R. Biosensor for screening bacterial mercury methylation: example within the Desulfobulbaceae. Res Microbiol 2018; 169:44-51. [PMID: 28951230 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Mercury methylation and demethylation processes govern the fate of methylmercury in aquatic ecosystems. Under anoxic conditions, methylation activity is mainly of biological origin and is often the result of sulfate-reducing bacteria. In this study, the use of a luminescent biosensor for screening methylmercury production was validated by exposing the reporter strain to methylating or non-methylating Desulfovibrio strains. The sensitivity of the biosensor to methylmercury was shown to depend on sulfate-reducing bacterial growth conditions. Bioluminescence was measured using 1-10 mM of sulfides. As the sulfide level increased, luminescence decreased by 40-70%, respectively. Nevertheless, assuming an average of 5 mM of sulfide produced during sulfate-reducing growth, a mercury methylation potential of over 4% was detected when using 185 nM of inorganic mercury. Due to technical limitations, mercury speciation has, to date, only been investigated in a small number of bacterial strains, and no consistent phylogenetic distribution has been identified. Here, the biosensor was further used to assess the Hg methylation capacities of an additional 21 strains related to the Desulfobulbaceae. Seven of them were identified as methylmercury producers. Cultivation procedures combined with bacterial biosensors could provide innovative tools to identify new methylator clades amongst the prokaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Colin
- Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, IPREM UMR CNRS 5254, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, IBEAS, BP 1155, 64013 Pau Cedex, France.
| | - Jérôme Gury
- Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, IPREM UMR CNRS 5254, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, IBEAS, BP 1155, 64013 Pau Cedex, France.
| | - Mathilde Monperrus
- Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique Bio-Inorganique et Environnement (LCABIE), IPREM UMR CNRS 5254, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Hélioparc Pau Pyrénées, 2, av. P. Angot, 64053 Pau cedex 9, France.
| | - Sophie Gentes
- Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, IPREM UMR CNRS 5254, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, IBEAS, BP 1155, 64013 Pau Cedex, France.
| | - Paola Ayala Borda
- Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, IPREM UMR CNRS 5254, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, IBEAS, BP 1155, 64013 Pau Cedex, France.
| | - Marisol Goni-Urriza
- Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, IPREM UMR CNRS 5254, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, IBEAS, BP 1155, 64013 Pau Cedex, France.
| | - Rémy Guyoneaud
- Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, IPREM UMR CNRS 5254, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, IBEAS, BP 1155, 64013 Pau Cedex, France.
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24
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Shi S, Kumar P, Lee KF. Generation of photonic entanglement in green fluorescent proteins. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1934. [PMID: 29203839 PMCID: PMC5715022 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02027-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent development of spectroscopic techniques based on quantum states of light can precipitate many breakthroughs in observing and controlling light-matter interactions in biological materials on a fundamental quantum level. For this reason, the generation of entangled light in biologically produced fluorescent proteins would be promising because of their biocompatibility. Here we demonstrate the generation of polarization-entangled two-photon state through spontaneous four-wave mixing in enhanced green fluorescent proteins. The reconstructed density matrix indicates that the entangled state is subject to decoherence originating from two-photon absorption. However, the prepared state is less sensitive to environmental decoherence because of the protective β-barrel structure that encapsulates the fluorophore in the protein. We further explore the quantumness, including classical and quantum correlations, of the state in the decoherence environment. Our method for photonic entanglement generation may have potential for developing quantum spectroscopic techniques and quantum-enhanced measurements in biological materials. Quantum-enhanced applications such as quantum spectroscopy of biological samples could take advantage from in situ generation of quantum states of light. Here, the authors characterize polarization-entangled photon states generated through spontaneous four-wave mixing in enhanced green fluorescent proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Shi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208-3112, USA.
| | - Prem Kumar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208-3112, USA. .,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208-3118, USA.
| | - Kim Fook Lee
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208-3118, USA.
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25
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McCallum H, Fenton A, Hudson PJ, Lee B, Levick B, Norman R, Perkins SE, Viney M, Wilson AJ, Lello J. Breaking beta: deconstructing the parasite transmission function. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:rstb.2016.0084. [PMID: 28289252 PMCID: PMC5352811 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmission is a fundamental step in the life cycle of every parasite but it is also one of the most challenging processes to model and quantify. In most host–parasite models, the transmission process is encapsulated by a single parameter β. Many different biological processes and interactions, acting on both hosts and infectious organisms, are subsumed in this single term. There are, however, at least two undesirable consequences of this high level of abstraction. First, nonlinearities and heterogeneities that can be critical to the dynamic behaviour of infections are poorly represented; second, estimating the transmission coefficient β from field data is often very difficult. In this paper, we present a conceptual model, which breaks the transmission process into its component parts. This deconstruction enables us to identify circumstances that generate nonlinearities in transmission, with potential implications for emergent transmission behaviour at individual and population scales. Such behaviour cannot be explained by the traditional linear transmission frameworks. The deconstruction also provides a clearer link to the empirical estimation of key components of transmission and enables the construction of flexible models that produce a unified understanding of the spread of both micro- and macro-parasite infectious disease agents. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Opening the black box: re-examining the ecology and evolution of parasite transmission’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamish McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan 4111, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andy Fenton
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Peter J Hudson
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Brian Lee
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Beth Levick
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Rachel Norman
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Sarah E Perkins
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK.,Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 S. Michele all'Adige, Trentino, Italy
| | - Mark Viney
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Anthony J Wilson
- Vector-borne Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Joanne Lello
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK .,Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 S. Michele all'Adige, Trentino, Italy
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26
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Tay PKR, Nguyen PQ, Joshi NS. A Synthetic Circuit for Mercury Bioremediation Using Self-Assembling Functional Amyloids. ACS Synth Biol 2017; 6:1841-1850. [PMID: 28737385 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology approaches to bioremediation are a key sustainable strategy to leverage the self-replicating and programmable aspects of biology for environmental stewardship. The increasing spread of anthropogenic mercury pollution into our habitats and food chains is a pressing concern. Here, we explore the use of programmed bacterial biofilms to aid in the sequestration of mercury. We demonstrate that by integrating a mercury-responsive promoter and an operon encoding a mercury-absorbing self-assembling extracellular protein nanofiber, we can engineer bacteria that can detect and sequester toxic Hg2+ ions from the environment. This work paves the way for the development of on-demand biofilm living materials that can operate autonomously as heavy-metal absorbents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Kun R. Tay
- School
of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ‡Wyss Institute for Biologically
Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Peter Q. Nguyen
- School
of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ‡Wyss Institute for Biologically
Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Neel S. Joshi
- School
of Engineering and Applied Sciences, ‡Wyss Institute for Biologically
Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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27
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New methodologies in screening of antibiotic residues in animal-derived foods: Biosensors. Talanta 2017; 175:435-442. [PMID: 28842013 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics are leading medicine asset for fighting against microbial infection, but also one of the important causes of death worldwide. Many antibiotics used as therapeutics and growth promotion agents in animals can lead to antibiotic residues in animal-derived food which harm the health of people. Hence, it is vital to screen antibiotic residues in animal derived foods. Typical methods for screening antibiotic residues are based on microbiological growth inhibition and immunological analyses. However these two methods have some disadvantages, such as poor sensitive, lack of specificity and etc. Therefore, it is necessary to develop simple, more efficient and high sensitive screening methods of antibiotic residues. These assays have been introduced for the screening of numerous food samples. Biosensors are emerging methods, applied in screening antibiotic residues in animal-derived foods. Two types of biosensors, whole-cell based biosensors and surface plasmon resonance-based sensors have been extensively used. Their advantages include portability, small sample requirement, high sensitivity and good specificity over the traditional screening methods.
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28
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Gui Q, Lawson T, Shan S, Yan L, Liu Y. The Application of Whole Cell-Based Biosensors for Use in Environmental Analysis and in Medical Diagnostics. SENSORS 2017; 17:s17071623. [PMID: 28703749 PMCID: PMC5539819 DOI: 10.3390/s17071623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Various whole cell-based biosensors have been reported in the literature for the last 20 years and these reports have shown great potential for their use in the areas of pollution detection in environmental and in biomedical diagnostics. Unlike other reviews of this growing field, this mini-review argues that: (1) the selection of reporter genes and their regulatory proteins are directly linked to the performance of celllular biosensors; (2) broad enhancements in microelectronics and information technologies have also led to improvements in the performance of these sensors; (3) their future potential is most apparent in their use in the areas of medical diagnostics and in environmental monitoring; and (4) currently the most promising work is focused on the better integration of cellular sensors with nano and micro scaled integrated chips. With better integration it may become practical to see these cells used as (5) real-time portable devices for diagnostics at the bedside and for remote environmental toxin detection and this in situ application will make the technology commonplace and thus as unremarkable as other ubiquitous technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Gui
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biosensing and Bioimaging, Instiute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuanxi Road, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| | - Tom Lawson
- ARC Center of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Suyan Shan
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biosensing and Bioimaging, Instiute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuanxi Road, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| | - Lu Yan
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biosensing and Bioimaging, Instiute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuanxi Road, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| | - Yong Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biosensing and Bioimaging, Instiute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuanxi Road, Wenzhou 325027, China.
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29
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Standley M, Allen J, Cervantes L, Lilly J, Camps M. Fluorescence-Based Reporters for Detection of Mutagenesis in E. coli. Methods Enzymol 2017. [PMID: 28645368 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2017.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Mutagenesis in model organisms following exposure to chemicals is used as an indicator of genotoxicity. Mutagenesis assays are also used to study mechanisms of DNA homeostasis. This chapter focuses on detection of mutagenesis in prokaryotes, which boils down to two approaches: reporter inactivation (forward mutation assay) and reversion of an inactivating mutation (reversion mutation assay). Both methods are labor intensive, involving visual screening, quantification of colonies on solid media, or determining a Poisson distribution in liquid culture. Here, we present two reversion reporters for in vivo mutagenesis that produce a quantitative output, and thus have the potential to greatly reduce the amount of test chemical and labor involved in these assays. This output is obtained by coupling a TEM β lactamase-based reversion assay with GFP fluorescence, either by placing the two genes on the same plasmid or by fusing them translationally and interrupting the N-terminus of the chimeric ORF with a stop codon. We also describe a reporter aimed at facilitating the monitoring of continuous mutagenesis in mutator strains. This reporter couples two reversion markers, allowing the temporal separation of mutation events in time, thus providing information about the dynamics of mutagenesis in mutator strains. Here, we describe these reporter systems, provide protocols for use, and demonstrate their key functional features using error-prone Pol I mutagenesis as a source of mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Standley
- University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer Allen
- University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Layla Cervantes
- University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Joshua Lilly
- University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Manel Camps
- University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States.
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30
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van Rossum T, Muras A, Baur MJ, Creutzburg SC, van der Oost J, Kengen SW. A growth- and bioluminescence-based bioreporter for the in vivo detection of novel biocatalysts. Microb Biotechnol 2017; 10:625-641. [PMID: 28393499 PMCID: PMC5404197 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of bioreporters in high-throughput screening for small molecules is generally laborious and/or expensive. The technology can be simplified by coupling the generation of a desired compound to cell survival, causing only positive cells to stay in the pool of generated variants. Here, a dual selection/screening system was developed for the in vivo detection of novel biocatalysts. The sensor part of the system is based on the transcriptional regulator AraC, which controls expression of both a selection reporter (LeuB or KmR; enabling growth) for rapid reduction of the initially large library size and a screening reporter (LuxCDABE; causing bioluminescence) for further quantification of the positive variants. Of four developed systems, the best system was the medium copy system with KmR as selection reporter. As a proof of principle, the system was tested for the selection of cells expressing an l-arabinose isomerase derived from mesophilic Escherichia coli or thermophilic Geobacillus thermodenitrificans. A more than a millionfold enrichment of cells with l-arabinose isomerase activity was demonstrated by selection and exclusion of false positives by screening. This dual selection/screening system is an important step towards an improved detection method for small molecules, and thereby for finding novel biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teunke van Rossum
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Aleksandra Muras
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Marco J.J. Baur
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd C.A. Creutzburg
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Servé W.M. Kengen
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University and ResearchStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
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31
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Branchini BR, Southworth TL. A Highly Sensitive Biosensor for ATP Using a Chimeric Firefly Luciferase. Methods Enzymol 2017; 589:351-364. [PMID: 28336069 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Firefly luciferases, which emit visible light in a highly specific ATP-dependent process, have been adapted for a variety of applications based on the detection of the enzymes or using the proteins to measure ATP levels. Based on studies of chimeric luciferases, we engineered a novel luciferase called PLG2 that has enhanced specific activity, and thermal and pH stability compared to the commonly used Photinus pyralis luciferase. We present here protocols for preparing a single assay mixture containing PLG2 that can be used to readily detect femtomole levels of ATP. Our methodology can be used with a variety of samples, including human and bacterial cells, where measurements of ATP can be used as a biosensor for the detection of viable cells.
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32
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Mahbub KR, Bahar MM, Labbate M, Krishnan K, Andrews S, Naidu R, Megharaj M. Bioremediation of mercury: not properly exploited in contaminated soils! Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:963-976. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-8079-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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33
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Prévéral S, Brutesco C, Descamps ECT, Escoffier C, Pignol D, Ginet N, Garcia D. A bioluminescent arsenite biosensor designed for inline water analyzer. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:25-32. [PMID: 26769474 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-6000-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Whole-cell biosensors based on the reporter gene system can offer rapid detection of trace levels of organic or metallic compounds in water. They are well characterized in laboratory conditions, but their transfer into technological devices for the surveillance of water networks remains at a conceptual level. The development of a semi-autonomous inline water analyzer stumbles across the conservation of the bacterial biosensors over a period of time compatible with the autonomy requested by the end-user while maintaining a satisfactory sensitivity, specificity, and time response. We focused here on assessing the effect of lyophilization on two biosensors based on the reporter gene system and hosted in Escherichia coli. The reporter gene used here is the entire bacterial luciferase lux operon (luxCDABE) for an autonomous bioluminescence emission without the need to add any substrate. In the cell-survival biosensor that is used to determine the overall fitness of the bacteria when mixed with the water sample, lux expression is driven by a constitutive E. coli promoter PrpoD. In the arsenite biosensor, the arsenite-inducible promoter P ars involved in arsenite resistance in E. coli controls lux expression. Evaluation of the shelf life of these lyophilized biosensors kept at 4 °C over a year evidenced that about 40 % of the lyophilized cells can be revived in such storage conditions. The performances of the lyophilized biosensor after 7 months in storage are maintained, with a detection limit of 0.2 μM arsenite for a response in about an hour with good reproducibility. These results pave the way to the use in tandem of both biosensors (one for general toxicity and one for arsenite contamination) as consumables of an autonomous analyzer in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Prévéral
- CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Bioenerget Cellulaire, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget and Microbiol Environ, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, BVME UMR7265, Marseille, F-13284, France
| | - Catherine Brutesco
- CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Bioenerget Cellulaire, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget and Microbiol Environ, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, BVME UMR7265, Marseille, F-13284, France
| | - Elodie C T Descamps
- CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Bioenerget Cellulaire, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget and Microbiol Environ, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, BVME UMR7265, Marseille, F-13284, France
| | - Camille Escoffier
- CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Bioenerget Cellulaire, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget and Microbiol Environ, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, BVME UMR7265, Marseille, F-13284, France
| | - David Pignol
- CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Bioenerget Cellulaire, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget and Microbiol Environ, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, BVME UMR7265, Marseille, F-13284, France
| | - Nicolas Ginet
- CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Bioenerget Cellulaire, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France.
- CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget and Microbiol Environ, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France.
- Aix-Marseille Université, BVME UMR7265, Marseille, F-13284, France.
| | - Daniel Garcia
- CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Bioenerget Cellulaire, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget and Microbiol Environ, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, F-13108, France
- Aix-Marseille Université, BVME UMR7265, Marseille, F-13284, France
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Vrisman CM, Deblais L, Rajashekara G, Miller SA. Differential Colonization Dynamics of Cucurbit Hosts by Erwinia tracheiphila. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2016; 106:684-692. [PMID: 26926487 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-11-15-0289-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial wilt is one of the most destructive diseases of cucurbits in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. Although the disease has been studied since 1900, host colonization dynamics remain unclear. Cucumis- and Cucurbita-derived strains exhibit host preference for the cucurbit genus from which they were isolated. We constructed a bioluminescent strain of Erwinia tracheiphila (TedCu10-BL#9) and colonization of different cucurbit hosts was monitored. At the second-true-leaf stage, Cucumis melo plants were inoculated with TedCu10-BL#9 via wounded leaves, stems, and roots. Daily monitoring of colonization showed bioluminescent bacteria in the inoculated leaf and petiole beginning 1 day postinoculation (DPI). The bacteria spread to roots via the stem by 2 DPI, reached the plant extremities 4 DPI, and the plant wilted 6 DPI. However, Cucurbita plants inoculated with TedCu10-BL#9 did not wilt, even at 35 DPI. Bioluminescent bacteria were detected 6 DPI in the main stem of squash and pumpkin plants, which harbored approximately 10(4) and 10(1) CFU/g, respectively, of TedCu10-BL#9 without symptoms. Although significantly less systemic plant colonization was observed in nonpreferred host Cucurbita plants compared with preferred hosts, the mechanism of tolerance of Cucurbita plants to E. tracheiphila strains from Cucumis remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudio M Vrisman
- First, second, and fourth authors: Department of Plant Pathology, and second and third authors: Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster 44691
| | - Loïc Deblais
- First, second, and fourth authors: Department of Plant Pathology, and second and third authors: Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster 44691
| | - Gireesh Rajashekara
- First, second, and fourth authors: Department of Plant Pathology, and second and third authors: Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster 44691
| | - Sally A Miller
- First, second, and fourth authors: Department of Plant Pathology, and second and third authors: Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster 44691
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35
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Shi S, Thomas A, Corzo NV, Kumar P, Huang Y, Lee KF. Broadband photon pair generation in green fluorescent proteins through spontaneous four-wave mixing. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24344. [PMID: 27076032 PMCID: PMC4830944 DOI: 10.1038/srep24344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies in quantum biology suggest that quantum mechanics help us to explore quantum processes in biological system. Here, we demonstrate generation of photon pairs through spontaneous four-wave mixing process in naturally occurring fluorescent proteins. We develop a general empirical method for analyzing the relative strength of nonlinear optical interaction processes in five different organic fluorophores. Our results indicate that the generation of photon pairs in green fluorescent proteins is subject to less background noises than in other fluorophores, leading to a coincidence-to-accidental ratio ~145. As such proteins can be genetically engineered and fused to many biological cells, our experiment enables a new platform for quantum information processing in a biological environment such as biomimetic quantum networks and quantum sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Shi
- Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-3112 USA
| | - Abu Thomas
- Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-3112 USA
| | - Neil V Corzo
- Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-3112 USA
| | - Prem Kumar
- Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-3112 USA
| | - Yuping Huang
- Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030 USA
| | - Kim Fook Lee
- Center for Photonic Communication and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-3112 USA
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36
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Durand MJ, Hua A, Jouanneau S, Cregut M, Thouand G. Detection of Metal and Organometallic Compounds with Bioluminescent Bacterial Bioassays. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015:77-99. [PMID: 26475470 DOI: 10.1007/10_2015_332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Chemical detection of metal and organometallic compounds is very specific and sensitive, but these techniques are time consuming and expensive. Although these techniques provide information about the concentrations of compounds, they fail to inform us about the toxicity of a sample. Because the toxic effects of metals and organometallic compounds are influenced by a multitude of environmental factors, such as pH, the presence of chelating agents, speciation, and organic matter, bioassays have been developed for ecotoxicological studies. Among these bioassays, recombinant luminescent bacteria have been developed over the past 20 years, and many of them are specific for the detection of metals and metalloids. These bioassays are simple to use, are inexpensive, and provide information on the bioavailable fraction of metals and organometals. Thus, they are an essential complementary tool for providing information beyond chemical analysis. In this chapter, we propose to investigate the detection of metals and organometallic compounds with bioluminescent bacterial bioassays and the applications of these bioassays to environmental samples. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Durand
- University of Nantes, UMR CNRS GEPEA 6144, 18 Bd Gaston Defferre, 85000, La Roche sur Yon, France.
| | - A Hua
- University of Nantes, UMR CNRS GEPEA 6144, 18 Bd Gaston Defferre, 85000, La Roche sur Yon, France
| | - S Jouanneau
- University of Nantes, UMR CNRS GEPEA 6144, 18 Bd Gaston Defferre, 85000, La Roche sur Yon, France
| | - M Cregut
- Capacités SAS, 26 Bd Vincent Gâche, 44200, Nantes, France
| | - G Thouand
- University of Nantes, UMR CNRS GEPEA 6144, 18 Bd Gaston Defferre, 85000, La Roche sur Yon, France
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37
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Branchini BR, Southworth TL, Fontaine DM, Kohrt D, Talukder M, Michelini E, Cevenini L, Roda A, Grossel MJ. An enhanced chimeric firefly luciferase-inspired enzyme for ATP detection and bioluminescence reporter and imaging applications. Anal Biochem 2015; 484:148-53. [PMID: 26049097 PMCID: PMC4496250 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2015.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Firefly luciferases, which emit visible light in a highly specific ATP-dependent process, have been adapted for a variety of applications, including gene reporter assays, whole-cell biosensor measurements, and in vivo imaging. We previously reported the approximately 2-fold enhanced activity and 1.4-fold greater bioluminescence quantum yield properties of a chimeric enzyme that contains the N-domain of Photinus pyralis luciferase joined to the C-domain of Luciola italica luciferase. Subsequently, we identified 5 amino acid changes based on L. italica that are the main determinants of the improved bioluminescence properties. Further engineering to enhance thermal and pH stability produced a novel luciferase called PLG2. We present here a systematic comparison of the spectral and physical properties of the new protein with P. pyralis luciferase and demonstrate the potential of PLG2 for use in assays based on the detection of femtomole levels of ATP. In addition, we compared the performance of a mammalian codon-optimized version of the cDNA for PLG2 with the luc2 gene in HEK293T cells. Using an optimized low-cost assay system, PLG2 activity can be monitored in mammalian cell lysates and living cells with 4.4-fold and approximately 3.0-fold greater sensitivity, respectively. PLG2 could be an improved alternative to Promega's luc2 for reporter and imaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce R Branchini
- Department of Chemistry, Connecticut College, New London, CT 06320, USA.
| | - Tara L Southworth
- Department of Chemistry, Connecticut College, New London, CT 06320, USA
| | | | - Dawn Kohrt
- Department of Biology, Connecticut College, New London, CT 06320, USA
| | - Munya Talukder
- Department of Chemistry, Connecticut College, New London, CT 06320, USA
| | - Elisa Michelini
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Cevenini
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Aldo Roda
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Martha J Grossel
- Department of Biology, Connecticut College, New London, CT 06320, USA
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Wang YZ, Li D, He M. Application of internal standard method in recombinant luminescent bacteria test. J Environ Sci (China) 2015; 35:128-134. [PMID: 26354701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2015.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 03/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Mercury and its organic compounds have been of severe concern worldwide due to their damage to the ecosystem and human health. The development of effective and affordable technology to monitor and signal the presence of bioavailable mercury is an urgent need. The Mer gene is a mercury-responsive resistant gene, and a mercury-sensing recombinant luminescent bacterium using the Mer gene was constructed in this study. The mer operon from marine Pseudomonas putida strain SP1 was amplified and fused with prompterless luxCDABE in the pUCD615 plasmid within Escherichia coli cells, resulting in pTHE30-E. coli. The recombinant strain showed high sensitivity and specificity. The detection limit of Hg(2+) was 5nmol/L, and distinct luminescence could be detected in 30min. Cd(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Ca(2+), Pb(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), and Al(3+) did not interfere with the detection over a range of 10(-5)-1mM. Application of recombinant luminescent bacteria testing in environmental samples has been a controversial issue: especially for metal-sensing recombinant strains, false negatives caused by high cytotoxicity are one of the most important issues when applying recombinant luminescent bacteria in biomonitoring of heavy metals. In this study, by establishing an internal standard approach, the false negative problem was overcome; furthermore, the method can also help to estimate the suspected mercury concentration, which ensures high detection sensitivity of bioavailable Hg(2+).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Zhi Wang
- Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (ESPC) State Key Joint Laboratory, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. E-mail: .
| | - Dan Li
- Fudan University, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Miao He
- Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control (ESPC) State Key Joint Laboratory, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. E-mail: .
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Huang CW, Yang SH, Sun MW, Liao VHC. Development of a set of bacterial biosensors for simultaneously detecting arsenic and mercury in groundwater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:10206-10213. [PMID: 25697554 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4216-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing need for effective and inexpensive environmental monitoring strategies for assessing heavy metal contamination levels. We developed a set of bacterial biosensors to simultaneously detect multiple bioavailable heavy metals (As(III) and Hg(II)). The biosensors provide a choice of the two reporter systems, luxCDABE and gfp, combined with metal responsive regulatory elements (ars and mer for As(III) and Hg(II), respectively). The results showed that the induction of the luxCDABE-based constructs was more sensitive than that of the gfp-based constructs for the detection of As(III) and Hg(II). In addition, both the luminescent and fluorescent biosensors readily distinguished As and Hg concentrations in groundwater samples to meet the groundwater quality standards. Due to the potentially complicated chemicals present in environmental samples, using a set of bacterial biosensors with different reporter genes to simultaneously determine the bioavailable proportions of heavy metals is desirable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Wei Huang
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, 106, Taiwan
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40
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Fernandez-López R, Ruiz R, de la Cruz F, Moncalián G. Transcription factor-based biosensors enlightened by the analyte. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:648. [PMID: 26191047 PMCID: PMC4486848 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Whole cell biosensors (WCBs) have multiple applications for environmental monitoring, detecting a wide range of pollutants. WCBs depend critically on the sensitivity and specificity of the transcription factor (TF) used to detect the analyte. We describe the mechanism of regulation and the structural and biochemical properties of TF families that are used, or could be used, for the development of environmental WCBs. Focusing on the chemical nature of the analyte, we review TFs that respond to aromatic compounds (XylS-AraC, XylR-NtrC, and LysR), metal ions (MerR, ArsR, DtxR, Fur, and NikR) or antibiotics (TetR and MarR). Analyzing the structural domains involved in DNA recognition, we highlight the similitudes in the DNA binding domains (DBDs) of these TF families. Opposite to DBDs, the wide range of analytes detected by TFs results in a diversity of structures at the effector binding domain. The modular architecture of TFs opens the possibility of engineering TFs with hybrid DNA and effector specificities. Yet, the lack of a crisp correlation between structural domains and specific functions makes this a challenging task.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Gabriel Moncalián
- Departamento de Biología Molecular and Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, Universidad de Cantabria – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasSantander, Spain
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41
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Chan K, Alter L, Barthold SW, Parveen N. Disruption of bbe02 by Insertion of a Luciferase Gene Increases Transformation Efficiency of Borrelia burgdorferi and Allows Live Imaging in Lyme Disease Susceptible C3H Mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129532. [PMID: 26069970 PMCID: PMC4466376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in North America and Europe. The causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferi persists in the white-footed mouse. Infection with B. burgdorferi can cause acute to persistent multisystemic Lyme disease in humans. Some disease manifestations are also exhibited in the mouse model of Lyme disease. Genetic manipulation of B. burgdorferi remains difficult. First, B. burgdorferi contains a large number of endogenous plasmids with unique sequences encoding unknown functions. The presence of these plasmids needs to be confirmed after each genetic manipulation. Second, the restriction modification defense systems, including that encoded by bbe02 gene lead to low transformation efficiency in B. burgdorferi. Therefore, studying the molecular basis of Lyme pathogenesis is a challenge. Furthermore, investigation of the role of a specific B. burgdorferi protein throughout infection requires a large number of mice, making it labor intensive and expensive. To overcome the problems associated with low transformation efficiency and to reduce the number of mice needed for experiments, we disrupted the bbe02 gene of a highly infectious and pathogenic B. burgdorferi strain, N40 D10/E9 through insertion of a firefly luciferase gene. The bbe02 mutant shows higher transformation efficiency and maintains luciferase activity throughout infection as detected by live imaging of mice. Infectivity and pathogenesis of this mutant were comparable to the wild-type N40 strain. This mutant will serve as an ideal parental strain to examine the roles of various B. burgdorferi proteins in Lyme pathogenesis in the mouse model in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamfai Chan
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, United States of America
| | - Laura Alter
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, United States of America
| | - Stephen W. Barthold
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, 95616, United States of America
| | - Nikhat Parveen
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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42
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Cheng G, Dong X, Wang Y, Peng D, Wang X, Hao H, Xie S, Qu W, Liu Z, Yuan Z. Development of a novel genetically modified bioluminescent-bacteria-based assay for detection of fluoroquinolones in animal-derived foods. Anal Bioanal Chem 2014; 406:7899-910. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-014-8228-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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43
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Hynninen A, Virta M. Whole-cell bioreporters for the detection of bioavailable metals. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 118:31-63. [PMID: 19543702 DOI: 10.1007/10_2009_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Whole-cell bioreporters are living microorganisms that produce a specific, quantifiable output in response to target chemicals. Typically, whole-cell bioreporters combine a sensor element for the substance of interest and a reporter element coding for an easily detectable protein. The sensor element is responsible for recognizing the presence of an analyte. In the case of metal bioreporters, the sensor element consists of a DNA promoter region for a metal-binding transcription factor fused to a promoterless reporter gene that encodes a signal-producing protein. In this review, we provide an overview of specific whole-cell bioreporters for heavy metals. Because the sensing of metals by bioreporter microorganisms is usually based on heavy metal resistance/homeostasis mechanisms, the basis of these mechanisms will also be discussed. The goal here is not to present a comprehensive summary of individual metal-specific bioreporters that have been constructed, but rather to express views on the theory and applications of metal-specific bioreporters and identify some directions for future research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Hynninen
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
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44
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Hou QH, Ma AZ, Li Y, Zhuang XL, Bai ZH, Zhang XK, Zhuang GQ. Assessing the effect of phosphate and silicate on Cd bioavailability in soil using an Escherichia coli cadAp::luc-based whole-cell sensor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2014; 16:890-896. [PMID: 24519239 DOI: 10.1039/c3em00598d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
An Escherichia coli cadAp::luc-based whole-cell sensor was constructed to measure cadmium (Cd) bioavailability and assess the immobilizing efficiency of phosphate and silicate on Cd. In previous induction experiments, a linear response (R(2) = 0.97, P < 0.01) from 0.1 to 5 μmol L(-1) of Cd was detected by this sensor after a 2 h incubation. The sensor was then used to estimate Cd bioavailability in soils spiked with different amounts of dipotassium phosphate (DKP, K₂HPO₄) or sodium silicate (SS, Na₂SiO₃·9H₂O). The total Cd in soil-water extracts (TSWE) was determined with ICP-MS, and the bioavailable Cd in soil-water extracts (BSWE) and bioavailable Cd in soil-water suspensions (BSWS) were measured by the E. coli cadAp::luc-based whole-cell sensor. Final results showed that spiked SS (Si : Cd = 2 : 1, mol mol(-1)) reduced the different forms of Cd (TSWE, BSWE and BSWS) from 56.47 mg kg(-1), 42.11 mg kg(-1), and 206.72 mg kg(-1) to 16.63 mg kg(-1), 15.90 mg kg(-1), and 67.57 mg kg(-1), respectively. In other words, SS had 25.68%, 19.5%, and 9.54% better immobilizing efficiency, respectively, compared with DKP. All the results supported SS was more efficient than DKP at immobilizing Cd in soil, and higher soil pH and higher solubility of the immobilizing agents may have been the major factor affecting immobilizing efficiency. In addition, the total and bioavailable Cd in soil-water extracts was only 16.13-35.41% of the sensor contact assay-determined Cd (BSWS), which indicated that the whole-cell sensor-based contact assay was more practical in assessing the risk of Cd in soil after immobilization since it would not overrate the immobilizing capacity of the agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Hui Hou
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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Hou QH, Ma AZ, Lv D, Bai ZH, Zhuang XL, Zhuang GQ. The impacts of different long-term fertilization regimes on the bioavailability of arsenic in soil: integrating chemical approach with Escherichia coli arsRp::luc-based biosensor. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:6137-46. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5656-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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46
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Essential role for the response regulator PmrA in Coxiella burnetii type 4B secretion and colonization of mammalian host cells. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:1925-40. [PMID: 24610709 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01532-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Successful host cell colonization by the Q fever pathogen, Coxiella burnetii, requires translocation of effector proteins into the host cytosol by a Dot/Icm type 4B secretion system (T4BSS). In Legionella pneumophila, the two-component system (TCS) PmrAB regulates the Dot/Icm T4BSS and several additional physiological processes associated with pathogenesis. Because PmrA consensus regulatory elements are associated with some dot/icm and substrate genes, a similar role for PmrA in regulation of the C. burnetii T4BSS has been proposed. Here, we constructed a C. burnetii pmrA deletion mutant to directly probe PmrA-mediated gene regulation. Compared to wild-type bacteria, C. burnetii ΔpmrA exhibited severe intracellular growth defects that coincided with failed secretion of effector proteins. Luciferase gene reporter assays demonstrated PmrA-dependent expression of 5 of 7 dot/icm operons and 9 of 11 effector-encoding genes with a predicted upstream PmrA regulatory element. Mutational analysis verified consensus sequence nucleotides required for PmrA-directed transcription. RNA sequencing and whole bacterial cell mass spectrometry of wild-type C. burnetii and the ΔpmrA mutant uncovered new components of the PmrA regulon, including several genes lacking PmrA motifs that encoded Dot/Icm substrates. Collectively, our results indicate that the PmrAB TCS is a critical virulence factor that regulates C. burnetii Dot/Icm secretion. The presence of PmrA-responsive genes lacking PmrA regulatory elements also suggests that the PmrAB TCS controls expression of regulatory systems associated with the production of additional C. burnetii proteins involved in host cell parasitism.
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47
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Amaro F, Turkewitz AP, Martín-González A, Gutiérrez JC. Functional GFP-metallothionein fusion protein from Tetrahymena thermophila: a potential whole-cell biosensor for monitoring heavy metal pollution and a cell model to study metallothionein overproduction effects. Biometals 2014; 27:195-205. [PMID: 24430977 PMCID: PMC4707044 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-014-9704-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The significance of metal(oid)s as environmental pollutants has made them a priority in ecotoxicology, with the aim of minimizing exposure to animals or humans. Therefore, it is necessary to develop sensitive and inexpensive methods that can efficiently detect and monitor these pollutants in the environment. Conventional analytical techniques suffer from the disadvantages of high cost and complexity. Alternatively, prokaryotic or eukaryotic whole-cell biosensors (WCB) are one of the newest molecular tools employed in environmental monitoring that use the cell as an integrated reporter incorporating a reporter gene fused to a heavy metal responsive promoter. In the present paper, we report results from expressing, in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, constructs consisting of the reporter gfp gene fused to the complete MTT1 or MTT5 protein coding regions under the transcriptional control of the MTT1 metallothionein promoter, which plays a critical role in heavy metal stress in this ciliate. When exposed to Cd(2+), such cells overexpress both the GFP reporter transgene and the linked metallothionein gene. We report that, for the GFPMTT5 strain, this metallothionein overexpression results in marked resistance to cadmium toxicity (24 h LC50 ~15 μM of Cd(2+)), compared to wild type cells (24 h LC50 ~1.73 μM of Cd(2+)). These results provide the first experimental evidence that ciliate metallothioneins, like in other organisms, function to protect the cell against toxic metal ions. Because these strains may have novel advantages as WCBs, we have compared their properties to those of other previously reported Tetrahymena WCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Amaro
- Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, C/. José Antonio Novais 12, Universidad Complutense (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aaron P. Turkewitz
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Cummings Life Science Center, 920 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL. 60637, USA
| | - Ana Martín-González
- Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, C/. José Antonio Novais 12, Universidad Complutense (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, C/. José Antonio Novais 12, Universidad Complutense (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Molecular manipulations for enhancing luminescent bioreporters performance in the detection of toxic chemicals. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 145:137-49. [PMID: 25216954 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-43619-6_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Microbial whole-cell bioreporters are genetically modified microorganisms that produce a quantifiable output in response to the presence of toxic chemicals or other stress factors. These bioreporters harbor a genetic fusion between a sensing element (usually a gene regulatory element responsive to the target) and a reporter element, the product of which may be quantitatively monitored either by its presence or by its activity. In this chapter we review genetic manipulations undertaken in order to improve bioluminescent bioreporter performance by increasing luminescent output, lowering the limit of detection, and shortening the response time. We describe molecular manipulations applied to all aspects of whole-cell bioreporters: the host strain, the expression system, the sensing element, and the reporter element. The molecular construction of whole-cell luminescent bioreporters, harboring fusions of gene promoter elements to reporter genes, has been around for over three decades; in most cases, these two genetic elements are combined "as is." This chapter outlines diverse molecular manipulations for enhancing the performance of such sensors.
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Zhang T, Li SY, Converse PJ, Grosset JH, Nuermberger EL. Rapid, serial, non-invasive assessment of drug efficacy in mice with autoluminescent Mycobacterium ulcerans infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2598. [PMID: 24367713 PMCID: PMC3868507 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Buruli ulcer (BU) caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans is the world's third most common mycobacterial infection. There is no vaccine against BU and surgery is needed for patients with large ulcers. Although recent experience indicates combination chemotherapy with streptomycin and rifampin improves cure rates, the utility of this regimen is limited by the 2-month duration of therapy, potential toxicity and required parenteral administration of streptomycin, and drug-drug interactions caused by rifampin. Discovery and development of drugs for BU is greatly hampered by the slow growth rate of M. ulcerans, requiring up to 3 months of incubation on solid media to produce colonies. Surrogate markers for evaluating antimicrobial activity in real-time which can be measured serially and non-invasively in infected footpads of live mice would accelerate pre-clinical evaluation of new drugs to treat BU. Previously, we developed bioluminescent M. ulcerans strains, demonstrating proof of concept for measuring luminescence as a surrogate marker for viable M. ulcerans in vitro and in vivo. However, the requirement of exogenous substrate limited the utility of such strains, especially for in vivo experiments. Methodology/Principal Finding For this study, we engineered M. ulcerans strains that express the entire luxCDABE operon and therefore are autoluminescent due to endogenous substrate production. The selected reporter strain displayed a growth rate and virulence similar to the wild-type parent strain and enabled rapid, real-time monitoring of in vitro and in vivo drug activity, including serial, non-invasive assessments in live mice, producing results which correlated closely with colony-forming unit (CFU) counts for a panel of drugs with various mechanisms of action. Conclusions/Significance Our results indicate that autoluminescent reporter strains of M. ulcerans are exceptional tools for pre-clinical evaluation of new drugs to treat BU due to their potential to drastically reduce the time, effort, animals, compound, and costs required to evaluate drug activity. The discovery and development of new drugs to improve the treatment of BU is greatly hampered by the slow growth rate of the organism, which requires up to 3 months to form countable colonies on solid media. Here, we engineered a virulent reporter strain of M. ulcerans with intrinsic bioluminescence to enable serial, real-time, non-invasive in vivo monitoring of viable bacterial counts and demonstrate its utility for high-throughput in vitro and in vivo screening of antibiotic efficacy using a panel of anti-mycobacterial drugs with various mechanisms of action. We show: 1) that a drug's in vitro activity against M. ulcerans is detectable in real time after as little as 2 days of exposure, and 2) that a drug's in vivo activity against M. ulcerans is detectable in as little as 1 week through rapid, serial, non-invasive assessment in live mice performed with a benchtop luminometer. This method promises dramatic reductions in time and effort as well as requirements for animals, compounds and other supplies. We believe such a strain is capable of transforming drug discovery and development efforts for BU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zhang
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, the People's Republic of China
| | - Si-Yang Li
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Paul J. Converse
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jacques H. Grosset
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Eric L. Nuermberger
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Baptist G, Pinel C, Ranquet C, Izard J, Ropers D, de Jong H, Geiselmann J. A genome-wide screen for identifying all regulators of a target gene. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:e164. [PMID: 23892289 PMCID: PMC3783194 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed a new screening methodology for identifying all genes that control the expression of a target gene through genetic or metabolic interactions. The screen combines mutant libraries with luciferase reporter constructs, whose expression can be monitored in vivo and over time in different environmental conditions. We apply the method to identify the genes that control the expression of the gene acs, encoding the acetyl coenzyme A synthetase, in Escherichia coli. We confirm most of the known genetic regulators, including CRP-cAMP, IHF and components of the phosphotransferase system. In addition, we identify new regulatory interactions, many of which involve metabolic intermediates or metabolic sensing, such as the genes pgi, pfkA, sucB and lpdA, encoding enzymes in glycolysis and the TCA cycle. Some of these novel interactions were validated by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. More generally, we observe that a large number of mutants directly or indirectly influence acs expression, an effect confirmed for a second promoter, sdhC. The method is applicable to any promoter fused to a luminescent reporter gene in combination with a deletion mutant library.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Baptist
- Laboratoire Adaptation et Pathogénie des Microorganismes, Université Joseph Fourier, CNRS UMR5163, 38700 La Tronche, France and INRIA Grenoble-Rhône-Alpes, 38334 Saint Ismier Cedex, France
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